Page 312 - Chinese Art, Vol II By Stephen W. Bushell

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which last are highly appreciated when of good shape and fine
lustre, are always drilled through and fastened to the setting by
fine wire. The Chinese, like the ancient Romans, are fond of
hanging pearls and jewels on strings of little chains attached to
rings and bracelets, which tinkle pleasantly when the hand is
moved.
Both Manchu and Chinese ladies wear hairpins and earrings
of elaborate and intricate pattern. A pair of hairpins is illustrated
in Fig. io6 : silver-gilt, the heads in the form of dragons, decorated
with kingfisher feathers ; from the heads hang strings of false
pearls connecting filigree plaques which are also inlaid with feathei
work. The silver-gilt necklet illustrated in the same figure is worn
by a Chinese child, the pendant being designed in the shape of a
lock, to lock the child to life the pendant here is repousse with
;
a scene of Taoist worship, inlaid with translucent enamel ; in
other cases one sees a light silver-gilt medallion embossed, as a
talisman, with an inscription of good omen, or a representation
of the god of longevity. The necklet, as well as the earrings, came
from the Amsterdam Exhibition (1883).
The two next examples of the craft which are illustrated in Fig.
107 were bought at the same Amsterdam E.xhibition of 1883.
The bridal head-dress is made of silver-gilt filigree open-work,
with applied ornament in the form of a temple pavilion, dragons
and phctnixes, decorated with kingfisher plumes and pearls, and
with balls and tassels of coloured silk. The chatelaine, underneath,
is composed of gilt metal chains and bows, suspending a variety
of silver-gilt implements of the toilet. It is worn on the breast
in China. Even old men of culture and learning will pin a chatelaine
of this kind on the lappet of their silk robe, to disjilay, may be
an old bronze co'U with an attractive patina, or a corroded piece
of carved jade dug up from some ancient tomb.
The following two illustrations present a couple of the elaborate
head-dresses worn by Manchu dames of high degree attached to